Thinner ring gauges

[moki]

Lanceros/Laguito No.1s have rapidly become my favorite vitola. I could care less if everyone else likes to have a big fat wad of volado in their mouths... give me a lancero any day!

 

[CasaSoho]

edit: BTW, if anyone knows a Culebra I am missing out on, send me a PM. As far as I know Davidoff is it.

They are out there...I imagine someone with more experience with the painfully rare will have something for you. Didn't partagas have one?

Regular production cigar or not so hard to find LE of course. I will not promise my first born child for a cigar (unless it's an Opus football). Partagas did have one and that's who is scheduled to release in 2007. I have no idea when they stopped making them.

 

[jabba]

Lanceros/Laguito No.1s have rapidly become my favorite vitola. I could care less if everyone else likes to have a big fat wad of volado in their mouths... give me a lancero any day!

how about an all Ligero Double Corona for you Moki

 

[Devil Doc]

SOOOOOOOOOOOO....why is this? Is it the Americanization of the world cigar market? Bigger and fatter is better? Are tastes changing? Is the habanos market starting to follow the NC market into the world of bigger cigars?
Is it all just personal preference, with some people discerning more flavors out of big cigars the way I do out of small?

What are your thoughts?

Since the late 19th century, American's have measured their success by the ring gauges of the cigar they smoke and the girth of their waist. It's nothing new.

Doc.

 

[nfulton]

I tend to smoke smaller ring cigars as well. I agree that with care they tend to me more complex and bit more balanced, IMHO. I have a list of lanceros and laguito 1's and 2's that I try to keep around. There are of course the Cohiba Lancero and Trini Fundadores. The NC's have their share...Oneoff, LFD, FFOX, and Padilla Miami all make amazing Lanceros. But what have I missed? Are there anymore must try small ring cigars out there?

Edit to add that while searching for reviews on CP for small gauge cigars, I found a few ideas and placed an order for some Tatuaje Especiales. When I have some cash to burn (pardon the pun), I am going to hunt down some of the Graycliff Elegante.

 

[jabba]

I tend to smoke smaller ring cigars as well. I agree that with care they tend to me more complex and bit more balanced, IMHO. I have a list of lanceros and laguito 1's and 2's that I try to keep around. There are of course the Cohiba Lancero and Trini Fundadores. The NC's have their share...Oneoff, LFD, FFOX, and Padilla Miami all make amazing Lanceros. But what have I missed? Are there anymore must try small ring cigars out there?

tons of smaller ring Cuban cigars you should try, such as epicure, sports, belvederes etc.

 

[junkman_56]

For me it's PC's, corona's and Lonsdale's, I love these formats.

Some of my favorites are:
PC - Por Larranaga and Juan Lopez
Corona - Diplomaticos No. 3 and Vegas Robaina Familiares
Lonsdale - Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Dieux

 

[TheLostGringo]

The American market is "THE" market for cigars and Americans typically like things bigger and stronger. I think the true American Connoisseurs love the smaller rings but the majority of the American market isn't the Connoisseur market. Personally I would love to see more cigars in the 36-42 ring gauge but I feel there is a place for all sizes, I also love smoking a double corona or a churchill when I'm sitting back and relaxing at the cottage or at the beach and I can indulge for a few hours. That said, I think those new 60 ringed cigars I just stupid and serve more for marketing purposes.

It's funny how times change, I bet nobody called Zino Davidoff a lady when he lit up many of his cigars 26 ringed cigars.

On a side note, I think it's much hard to make a great thin ringed cigar. First of all, the tobacco has to be superb because there is less of it and the roller has to be more skilled to avoid an under filled cigar or the dreaded plug.

Bigger maybe but not necessarily stronger. All too often I meet people that think the bigger a cigar is then the stronger it is, certainly not true. Just compare the Bolivar Corona Extra (a powerhouse) to the relatively mild (as Bolivars go) Boli BBF.

There definitely is a place for all sizes and my hope is the great small ring gauge cigars will not disappear over time.

 

[Burnt Tongue]

I soke alot of corona's. They smoke quickly when I don't have a lot of time.

 

[jabba]

The American market is "THE" market for cigars and Americans typically like things bigger and stronger. I think the true American Connoisseurs love the smaller rings but the majority of the American market isn't the Connoisseur market. Personally I would love to see more cigars in the 36-42 ring gauge but I feel there is a place for all sizes, I also love smoking a double corona or a churchill when I'm sitting back and relaxing at the cottage or at the beach and I can indulge for a few hours. That said, I think those new 60 ringed cigars I just stupid and serve more for marketing purposes.

It's funny how times change, I bet nobody called Zino Davidoff a lady when he lit up many of his cigars 26 ringed cigars.

On a side note, I think it's much hard to make a great thin ringed cigar. First of all, the tobacco has to be superb because there is less of it and the roller has to be more skilled to avoid an under filled cigar or the dreaded plug.

Bigger maybe but not necessarily stronger. All too often I meet people that think the bigger a cigar is then the stronger it is, certainly not true. Just compare the Bolivar Corona Extra (a powerhouse) to the relatively mild (as Bolivars go) Boli BBF.

There definitely is a place for all sizes and my hope is the great small ring gauge cigars will not disappear over time.

I didn't mean all the fatter cigars are stronger, I ment that Americans usually like things bigger and stronger, for the most part. I don't think you'll find a Cuban cigar as strong as an OpusX or a LFD double Ligero.

 

[cohibasurfer]

I've just opened some cohiba panetelas from '04. These babies are intense in flavors. They still need a few more years to complete their maturity though. They probably won't make it! Panetelas take an artful technique to smoke (slower and less frequent puffs)but the results are very rewarding. I also recomend less humidity( nothing over 65) while ageing this size. I enjoy smaller cigars when it gets colder, cuz I don't like to stay outside for hours to finish bigger smokes.

 

[fenian'98]

I typically smoke cigars between 42 and 52. The few smaller guages didn't get the attention they deserved and got harsh. I try to control my smoking, and do a good job at it, but I like that cushion the larger cigars give you. IMHO 60 is just plain ridiculous. It won't fit in most cutters and looks stupid in someones mouth.

 

[Matt R]

I think it all depends on the mood, but I smoke more laguito #1 and #2's than anything else, recently. I absolutly love the Cohiba medias corona Reserva, but alas, am out. Smaller ring gauge cigars take more subtle smoking than the larger ones. Slow and steady to get all that they can give, IMO.

All that said, I did smoke a Cohiba Behike "second" this past weekend that was out of this world good. But, so was the old La Esepcion Longo and the Davidoff #1.

 

[moki]

All that said, I did smoke a Cohiba Behike "second" this past weekend that was out of this world good.

Hanging with Vitasea again, Matt?

 

[bubbaco]

I haven't taken the time to try the smaller ring sizes yet. I think 48 is about the smallest I've tried. This is mostly because I want something that lasts awhile so I've stuck with robusto and toro sizes. If I can take two hours to enjoy a smoke, I'm really happy.

 

[Krautle87]

I am a sucker for a good Culebra. By good Culebra, of course I am refering to the Davidoff Special "C" because it is the only one I know of

How are they? Being a big Davidoff fan I've been interested in getting one or two, is the taste and overall experiance something really different or are they more of a novelty?

 

[cohibasurfer]

I think it all depends on the mood, but I smoke more laguito #1 and #2's than anything else, recently. I absolutly love the Cohiba medias corona Reserva, but alas, am out. Smaller ring gauge cigars take more subtle smoking than the larger ones. Slow and steady to get all that they can give, IMO.

All that said, I did smoke a Cohiba Behike "second" this past weekend that was out of this world good. But, so was the old La Esepcion Longo and the Davidoff #1.

You smoked out with Devin! Fugger!

:thumbs:

 

[grateful1]

I've just opened some cohiba panetelas from '04. These babies are intense in flavors. They still need a few more years to complete their maturity though. They probably won't make it! Panetelas take an artful technique to smoke (slower and less frequent puffs)but the results are very rewarding. I also recomend less humidity( nothing over 65) while ageing this size. I enjoy smaller cigars when it gets colder, cuz I don't like to stay outside for hours to finish bigger smokes.

Ummm...where in 'cold' Cali are you!? ???

 

[stevehawk]

I've been slowly gravitating towards the longer, thinner cigars. I started out only wanting the "fatties" as well, probably for reasons stated above. But, I've found that I enjoy a good Lancero (39-44 ring) now more than a 52+ ring.

Ditto... I don't know why, but I'm liking the thinner cigars more and more.

 

[Blue Dragon]

When I first started smoking cigars, Robustos were King! Then I thought that all Torpedos/Piramides were really cool. I used to purposefully shy away from thinner ring guage cigars, until the Fundi, and I absolutely loved it. Then, the C. Lancero, then the Monte Especial, then the LFD Lancero ... I have to say I really am digging the smaller ring guaged cigars. I have been looking to try some of the other brands Lanceros, and completely forgot about Tatuaje's Especiales. I'll have to hunt that one down.

I have noticed what others have already said concerning heat and bitterness. Smoke slow and steady. I read somewhere on here about the 1 puff a minute rule. That seems really slow for me, but I try to make sure to space them out; sometimes I guage it by how the cherry is looking. I also used to do a double puff, a quick short one and then a longer one right after, and I try to break that habit when smoking thinner guaged cigars. But when smoked slowly it seems that I notice more flavor characteristics in these cigars than their larger brethren.

...
As far as the Culebras, Illusione also has a Culebra right now, and it is smoking much better than the Robusto. LFD makes a couple. I think even Drew Estates makes one, The Medusa .... sorry Wilkey, no Moontrance Culebras .. but maybe they will make you a special one.

And then of course there is the god of all Culebras!!! Damn, I'd like to see that, hell, even smoke one would be better!